Lawn mower handle and mounting



Sept. 14, 1954 A, KAESER 2,688,834

LAWN MOWER HANDLE AND MOUNTING Filed Feb. 17, 1951 INVENTOR. #fm/uf? L./fnfsE/,

BYMAM ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 14, 1954 LAWN MOWER HANDLE AND MOUNTING Arthur L. Kaeser,Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, kto Weber Engineered Products, `Inc., Cincinnati,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 17, 1951, Serial No.211,489

ll Claims.

My invention relates .to an adjustable handle primarily for use with alawn mower or `other type of apparatus which is operated over a surfaceon which the operator walks. Lawn mowers of either the power actuatedtype or the mechanically actuated type are usually controlled or pushedby means of a handle which is mounted on one or more shafts projectingupwardly at an angle from the body of the mower. Since the lawn mower ispushed or controlled for an appreciable length of time, the elevation ofthe controlling or operating handle is preferably adjustable so as toaccommodate either a tall person or a short person, and in many .cases achild.

mower which is pushed .across the surface. This is exemplary, however,and it is to be understood that my handle is equally adaptable for a,hand propelled mower or any type of mower which requires pushing `orcontrolling When in use. My handle may be used in the operation andcontrol of other machines or devices which are moved or controlledacrossa surface where the operator must follow the device across vthe surface,or wherein it is desirable to adjust the height `of the handle above thesurface to laccommodate operators of different statures. Preferably, Vmyhandle is supported by two parallel shafts since I have found that thisprovides a sturdier and firmer attachment to the mower and a better nowdescribe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is now made to the drawingswhich .form a part thereof and in which:

Figure l isa plan view of my adjustable handle mounted on a lawn mower.

This adjustable feature is particularly advan- 1.5 Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the handle and tageous wherein the handle and its mountingmower shown in Figure 1. shafts are rigidly affixed to the lawn mower toFigure v3 is an enlarged cross section of the permit rocking the mowerduring its operation joint between the shaft of my handle and the andmanipulating it over the ground, mower taken on thesection line 3-3 ofFigure l. It is an object of my invention to provide a 2o Figure 4 is across section of the joint and lawn mower handle which is mounted onshafts the ,clamping means taken on the section line which in turn `arerigidly mounted yon the mower 4 4 of Figure 3.

Y during its operation, `but which may beadjusted Briefly, ll thepractice f my IIVSIIOII, I as to shaft angle in reference to the Amowerto preferably provide a lawn mower handle mounted raise and lower thehandle at will. g5 on the ends of parallel shafts having a circular Itis a further object `of my invention to protransverse cross section. Inthe embodiment vide a lawn mower handle which .has the adshown, theshafts and ,handle consist of a single justable features set forth aboveand which is pipe or tubing bent to form the parallel shafts quitesimple to adjust at will. A further object which are joined by theintegral handle poris to provide such a handle Vwhich may be easilytion. The free ends of the shafts are curved to removed from the mowerfor shipping, but which a constant radius in a vertical plane when isrugged and sturdy when in position onthe mounted on the mower. Mountedon the mower mower. itself are .seats to receive the curved ends of Mylawn mower handle isrelatively .simple and the shafts at all times inspite of peripheral, cirinexpensive to construct and hence does not .addcumfelerltal movement vbetween the Shaft ends appreciably -to themanufacturing cost and sale and the surface of the seats. Since the mainprice of a mower to which it is attached. body of the shafts projectstangentially from .the

In the drawings and specifications which folcurved ends, thiscircumferential relative movelow, I will show and described myadjustable ment between the shaft ends and the seats dehandle in@0111190131011 With a DOWGI dIVeIl www crease or increase the verticalangle of the body of the shafts and hence the elevation of the handle tothe ground or surface on which the mower rests.

I provide clamps for holding the curved ends of vthe shafts inengagement with their seats, but permitting relative circumferentialmovement when the clamps 4are loosened. The preferred type lof clampwhich I have shown consists of a bolt `projecting 4through a:longitudinal slot in the shaft ends which `has .an appreciable lengthpermitting the longitudinal movement of the shaft end in its seatwithout the complete removal of the bolt. In order to prevent the headof the bolt from cutting ino `the surface of the shaft, I provide asaddle having a surface vcohforming to and in registry with the outersurface of the shaft end.

From the above, it is apparent that the bolts may be loosened and thecurved portion of the shafts slid longitudinally in their seats, thusraising or lowering the handle height. When the shaft is in position togive the proper handle height, the bolts are tightened so that the shaftends are rmly maintained in this position on their seats. When the moweris shipped or stored, the shafts may be easily removed by removing thebolts and lifting the shaft ends from their seats.

Referring to the drawings, the shafts I which carry the handle 2terminate in curved portions 3 which have a longitudinally curvedsurface 4 of constant radius. Mounted on the body 5 of the mower areseats 6 which may be cast into the body of the mower or may be aseparate fixture bolted or fastened to the mower in any normal manner.

The seats B have a concave surface 'I of the same constant radius as thecurved portion 4 of the shaft I and having a curved transverse crosssection so as to snugly receive the curve of the tubing from which theshafts are preferably made. In order to fasten the shaft end 3 to itsregistering seat 6, but to permit relative circumferential adjustmentbetween the two, I provide a slot I0 in the shaft end 3 which receives abolt 8 terminated by a head 9. The slot I0 is of sufcient length topermit the necessary movement by the seat 6 and the shaft end 3 foradjusting the handle height. The end of the bolt 8 is screwed into asocket I I in the seat 6 and I preferably provide a saddle or yoke I2which embraces the upper surface of the shaft end 3 and rests under thebolt head 9. With this construction, the handle may be adjusted bymovement of the shaft end 3 in the seat 6 when the bolt 8 is loosened.After the handle has been correctly positioned, the bolt 8 is tightenedand the head 9 then presses on the saddle I2, firmly clamping the shaftend 3 between the saddle I2 and the surface 'I of the seat 6.

In some instances the shafts I may be formed of other material thantubing and have a different transverse cross section than circular. Inthis case, the transverse cross section of the surface 'I of the seat tis made to conform to the periphery of the shaft end 3 with which it isin contact. However, the longitudinal curvature of the shaft end 3 has aconstant radius and registers with the seat 6 during relativecircumferential movement and such a construction is within thecontemplation of my invention.

From the above, it is apparent that I have provided an adjustable lawnmower handle which is quite simple and inexpensive to construct. My lawnmower handle is simple to adjust as to height and easy to remove forshipping or storage, but which is sturdy and positive when onceadjustment has been made and maintained by my clamp.

It is to be understood that modification may be made in my inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not intend to limitmyself otherwise than as pointed out in the claims which follow. Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. An adjustable handle and fastening means for a lawn mower comprisinga single tubular shaft of constant external radius bent to form a pairof parallel shafts spaced apart by a handle portion, the free ends ofsaid shafts being formed into a curve of constant radius, seatsreceiving said curved portions mounted on the lawn mower and each havinga longitudinal curvature of the same constant radius as the curvature ofsaid shaft ends, and the transverse curvature of the same radius as thetubular shaft, and fastening means for said shaft ends comprising boltspassing through slots in said curved ends and screwed into said seats,said bolts having heads which rest on saddles conforming to theperiphery of said shaft ends, so that the same are tightly embracedbetween the saddles and the seats at different relative positions of thehandle.

2. An adjustable handle and fastening means for a lawn mower comprisinga single tubular shaft of constant external radius bent to form a pairof parallel shafts spaced apart by a handle portion, the free ends ofsaid shafts being formed into a curve of constant radius, seatsreceiving said curved portions mounted on the lawn mower and each havinga longitudinal curvature of the same constant radius as the curvature ofsaid shaft end and the transverse curvature of the same radius as thetubular shaft, and fastening means for said shaft ends comprisingsaddles conforming to the periphery of said shaft ends and mountedthereon diametrically opposite said seats, and means urging said saddlesand seats together so they tightly embrace said shaft ends in differentrelative positions of the same.

3. Adjustable fastening means for a tubular lawn mower handle shaftcomprising the provision of a curve of constant radius in the free endof the shaft, a seat receiving said curved portion mounted on a lawnmower and having a longitudinal curvature of the same constant radius asthe curvature of said shaft end and a transverse curvature of the sameradius as the tubular shaft, and fastening means for said shaft endcomprising a bolt passing through a slot in said curved end and screwedinto said seat, said bolt having a head which rests on a saddleconforming to the periphery of said shaft end, so that the same istightly embraced between the saddle and the seat at different relativepositions of the handle shaft.

4. Adjustable fastening means for a tubular lawn mower handle shaftcomprising the provision of a curve of constant radius in the free endof the shaft, a seat receiving said curved portion mounted on a lawnmower and having a longitudinal curvature of the same constant radius asthe curvature of said shaft end and a transverse curvature of the sameradius as the tubular shaft, and fastening means for said shaft endcomprising a saddle conforming to the periphery of said shaft end andmounted thereon diametrically opposite said seat, and means urging saidsaddle and seat together so they tightly embrace said shaft end indifferent relative positions of the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Barkeret al. Apr. 25, 1950

